cellmate

noun

cell·​mate ˈsel-ˌmāt How to pronounce cellmate (audio)
variants or less commonly cell mate
plural cellmates also cell mates
: a person who shares a prison cell with another prisoner
When his cellmates learned that his bond had been set at $1 million (and bail at $500,000), they broke into laughter and shook their heads in disbelief.Richard Behar
Within a week, guards came by at night and told me to get ready. … I said goodbye to my cellmates and gathered my things …Clare Morgana Gillis

Examples of cellmate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
No deputy responded through the cell’s intercom and his cellmate told him to be quiet. Christopher Damien, USA Today, 1 Feb. 2026 But when a violent new cellmate Dee (Blyth) arrives, the chance for Taylor to get his life back is put in jeopardy. Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 30 Jan. 2026 Griner has discussed what her life was like in the Russian detention center, which included some horrifying details about what led one of her cellmates to prison. Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 28 Jan. 2026 Foster's cellmate was in the cell at the time, but was not named as a suspect. Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cellmate

Word History

First Known Use

1839, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cellmate was in 1839

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Cite this Entry

“Cellmate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cellmate. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.

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